Socket housing



R. POPP SOCKET;` HOUSING Aug. 26, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed June 8,1950 Aug. 26, 1952 R. PoPP 2,608,632

SOCKET HOUSING Filed June 8, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Aug. 26,1952 SOCKET HOUSING Rudoli-Popp,` Valparaiso, Ind., assignor to McGillManufacturing Company, Inc., Valparaiso, Ind.,

a corporation of Indiana Application June 8, 1950, Serial No. 166,895

(Cl. 20D-168) 3 Claims.

l i The present invention relates to a combination electric light bulbswitch and socket.

More particularly, the invention relates to a detachable reinforcedhousing for a combination light bulb socket switch.

With combination light bulb socket and switching mechanisms of the typegenerally used on unsatisfactory'because of inherent defects in theirdesign. One particularly troublesome character istic of existing socketswitches is the tendency for the two portions of the housing thereof to`come apart after. only a moderate amount of use. A further undersirablefeature of these switches, has been the need to manufacture manydifferent types in order to accommodate the different vuses to whichsuch switches are put. Efforts to eliminate the difficulties outlinedabove, have heretofore resulted in complex and expensive structures,which greatly complicated the installation of the housing.

It is therefore one object of the present invention .to provide acombination light bulb switch and socket having substantially a twopiece housing that will stand up under extensive usefor many years.

Another object of the invention is to provide a light bulb socket switchthat can be adapted for use with many types of electrical fixtures.

. A further object of the invention is the provision of a housing for alight bulb socket switch which is simple and rugged in nature, and whichwill4 facilitate installation ofthe socket switch.

A stillfurther object of the invention is to pro- ,vide a socket switchhousing which is relatively easy and cheap to manufacture.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a two-piece housing foran electric light bulb Vsocket switch which consists 0f a cap memberhaving a notch cutin one side, and a body mem- 'ber telescoped withinand reinforcing the walls of the cap member, and'having a notch out inone side which coacts with the notch cut in the cap member to dene areinforced, switch actuating leveraccommodating aperture.

, Another feature of the invention is the Dro-f vision ofa housing foran electric light socket having an upper cap member, a lower cylindricalbody member having a portion telescoped Within and reinforcing the sidesof the upper cap member, and an annular-ring cooperating with the bodymember and said cap member to securely hold the housing in assembledrelationship.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of an electriclight socket having a cupshaped cap member, a cylindrical body member,and an annular ring securing `the body member to the cap member, theannular ring being press tted over an annular bead on one end of thebody member, and retained in place on the body member bythe bead.

Other objects, features and many of the attendant advantages of thisVinvention will be appreciated readily as the same becomes understood byreference to the following detailed description, when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a light bulb switch andsocket'constructed in accordancewith the present invention, and showingits use with one type of a standard supporting fixture;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational viewof a disassembled light bulb switchand socket housing comprising a part of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the switch housing shown in Fig. 2, afterassembly;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the inventionshowing its use with a second known type of supporting fixture;`

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevational View of a vertical lampsupport having a combination electric `light socket and switchconstructed in accordance with the invention, secured to one of itsends;

Fig. 6 is asectional View of the socket switch and housing illustratedin Fig. 5, showing the manner in which it is supported;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a second type of lamp support uponwhich a combination electric light socket and switch having a housingconstructed inthe manner herein disclosed, can be easily mounted; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of thelamp support and lamp illustrated in Fig. 7

Referring now-to Fig. 1, the outlined container I represents a switchingmechanism of the type disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,068,701, thedetailed construction of which does not play a part of this invention.Switching mechanism` I Ais electrically connected to a light bulb socketsecured to its lower end, the outline of which is shown at 2, and alead-in conductor 3, and is accesso actuated by a universally operatingswitching lever 4. The socket switch thus comprised, is contained withina housing having a tubular neck 5 in which a flexible, insulatingnipple, not shown, is secured, and the entire assembly is suspended fromlead-in conductor 3 by means of the said nipple and a set screw 6 inneck 5.

Referring next to Fig. 2, the housing containing said socket switchcomprises an Lipper, cup-shaped cap member 8 having a turned down rim orside portion 9 externally threaded on its open end. Cap 8 has anaperture formed in the top thereof which cooperates with neck 5 todeiine an opening for lead-in conductors 3, and is secured to neck 5 bymeans of an annular iiange, not shown, threadably attached to said neck.The inside diameter of cap i3 is equal to the outside diameter of anupper portion iii of an open-ended, hollow cylindrical body m mberhaving the upper portion thereof integral with, and of greater diameterthan a lower portion Il. Upper portion lo hasv a rectangular,longitudinal notch i2 cut therein, and. because ci its dimensions,telescopes within cap il. Cap 8 has a rectangular, longitudinal notch i3cut therein which coacts with notch I2, upon upper portion Iii of thebody member being telescoped within cap 8, to form an aperture havingreinforced walls, as is best seen in Fig. 3. Cap 8 and body l0, l! areretained in the telescoped position by an annular ring lli having alower, inwardly constricting portion, and an upper, internally threadedportion i5. Ring it is press ntted over an annular bead i6 formed on thelower extremity or" lower portion li, and, upon being threaded onto cap8, supports the annular lip formed between sections Iii and ii in themanner shown in Fig. 3. The housing is constructed of brass or someother conductive material, and because of this fact it is oftennecessary to mount the socket switch within a paper insulator ia, shapedto the general contour of the housing, and contained within the housingas shown in Fig. 3.

Adverting now 'to Fig. i of the drawings, the outline of a combinationswitch mechanism Il and light bulb socket i3, is shown, which is of thesaine general construction as that described in relation to Fig. 1.Switch mechanism il is connected to a source oi' electrical powerthrough a pair of exible conductors I9, and is controlled in its actionby a universally operating switch lever 2li. Switching Vlever 2i) isconnected to switching mechanism il' through a threaded nipple 2lattached to switching mechanismi'i, and that supports apair of mountingnuts 22 and 23. Mechanism i'i and socket i5 are'ccntained within ahousing 2li almost identical in construction to the housing illustratedin Figs, 2 and 3; but which differs therefrom only in the constructionor" thelead-in conductor aperture lining, and the manner in which itadds support tothe switch mechanism. In the modification illustrated,the socket Yswitch and housing are fixed to a supporting mount 2t Abymeans of nipple 2i and mounting nuts 22 and 23, and lead-in conductorVi9 Vpasses through a grommet or bushing 25 attached to the cap portionin place of an internally threaded neck. rlhis construction allows thesocket to be side mounted in a manner heretofore impossible, in that thehousings of prior switches were not sufficiently rugged to allow sidemounting.

Referring now to Fig. 5, a service lamp capable of extensive use, andincorporating a socket v not available.

switch constructed in accordance with the invention, is shown. The lampcomprises la vertical supporting pipe 27 having a pair of outwardlyprojecting arms 28 secured to the end thereof, and a lamp socket andswitch 2S, similar in construction to the socket switch shown in Fig. l,secured to the ends of each of the arms. Seated in thesocket portion ofsocket switch 29, is a light bulb 39 having half of its radiating areacut ofi by a half shield 3i mounted on the end of the socket switchhousing, and ractuated by a universally acting switching lever` il and apull chain 32. As is best shown in Fig. 6, the switching mechanism l andlight bulb socket 2 are seated in a housing identical in construction tothe housing illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and comprising upper capportion 8 and 9 having lower cylindrical body portion I0 and Iltelescoped therewithin, and held in assembled relation by annularsecuring ring I4 and I5.v The housing is screwed on arm Z8 by means ofthe internally threaded, tubular neckl 5 attached to upper cap portion 3and S, and provides a rigid support for universally acting switchinglever 4, and for the half shield 3l secured to the lower end ofcylindrical body portion Ii. mechanism by means of conductor 3 ledthrough arm 28 and vertical support 2l which comprise lengths ofordinary hollow pipe secured together by a T-shaped elbow.

l-Ieretoiore, the construction of a lamp in the above described manner,and from parts readily acquired in any workshop, has been impracticablein that socket switches having housings Suniciently rugged to be usablein Vsuch lamps, were In known light bulb socket switches of the samegeneral type, the cap meme ber of the switch housing is secured to asupporting fixture, and the switch actuating lever passageway is locatedin the body member of the housing. In switches constructed in thismanner, the downward force exerted by the switch actuating lever, isabsorbed by the body member,

' and the upward securing force exerted by the supthe switch housingapart. In the presentinvention, both the cap member and the body memberof the switch absorb the force of the switching action, as can best beappreciated from a study of Fig. 6. This is due to the fact that theswitch actuating lever passageway is defined by the notch i3 formed inthe cap member, notch. I2 in the telescoped, reinforcing body member I9,and annular collar i4, and any forceexerted by the switching action, ispartially absorbed by all three members. rThis distribution of theswitching force amongst Vall three members of the housing prevents thedisassembly of the members after only a small amount of use.Thetelescoping ,construction of the housingr makes it possible to mounta half shield or other apparatus, such as a cage, on the end of thesocket housing in. a manner which was heretofore impossible, in that itwould cause disassembly of prior switch housings. These advantages areprovided` without complicating the installation of theswitch, for byreason of the two-piece construction. of-its housing, the switchingmechanism can be connected to the lead-in conductors prior to closingthe housing over the switching mechanism; thereby facilitatingconnection of the switching mechanism and the lead-in conductors. Duringthe period that the two members of the housing Electricity is suppliedto the switching 'Y are disassembled, the press fit provided for theminimum diameter portion of annular ring |4 over bead I6, prevents thebody member of the housing and the ring from coming apart; therebyprecluding the loss of time and effort in searching for either of thetwo parts.

In addition to the above advantages, the invention lends itself for usewith a great variety of supporting fixtures. One such xture isillustrated in Fig. '7, wherein a second type of low-cost, homemadeservice lamp made possible by the invention, is shown. The lampcomprises a flat, two-piece, adjustable arm 34 and 35 of sheet metalhaving one end adapted to be pivotally secured to a wall 36, or thelike, and the other end supporting a light bulb socket and switch 31similar in construction to the socket switch shown in Fig. 4. The switchis contained within a housing 31 identical to that shown in Figs. 2 and3, except as to the construction of the lead-in conductor accommodatingpassage in the upper cap portion of the housing, and the manner in whichit is mounted on its supporting iixture. In the subject iixture, thesocket switch 3'! is mounted on the end of adjustable arm portion 35 bymeans of a threaded neck 2| which, as is best seen in Fig. 4, is securedto the chassis of the switching mechanism contained within housing 31.Threaded neck 2| is adapted to be selectively inserted in any one of aplurality of apertures 4| formed in the end of arm portion 35, and issecured thereto by means of a butterfly nut 42 in the manner best shownin Fig. 8. Adjustment of the light is provided by changing the length ofthe arm portions 34 and 35, as well as by positioning threaded neck 2|in any of the desired apertures 4|. In addition, the socket switchhousing can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of threaded neck 2|for the purpose of directing the light from bulb 30 in any desireddirection. This provides an easily adjusted lamp which can beconstructed from scrap materials usually found in a workshop, and whichis made possible through the provision of a socket switch having ahousing of rugged construction.

From the preceding discussion, it is readily appreciated that theinvention provides a light bulb socket and switch of ruggedconstruction, and capable of extensive use for a period of many years.Due to the double-walled strength of its housing the socket switch canbe easily adapted for use in a great variety of installations, and thisrenders possible the attachment of auxiliary nxtures to it. Because ofits simplicity of design, installation of the switch is greatlyfacilitated, and the loss of time in search for lost parts is prevented.And further, the housings of the switch mechanisms can be easilymanufactured on a quantity basis, with only a slight modication requiredto adapt them for use in different types of installations.

Obviously other modifications and variations of the present inventionwill be suggested to those skilled in the art, in the light of the aboveteachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be madetherein which are within the full intended scope of the invention asdened by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an electric switch socket having therein switch mechanism andlaterally extending operating means, a shell housing consisting of threepieces, one of said pieces being a cap portion with an extended skirtthereon and a notch extending upwardly from the edge of said skirt, andsaid one 6 piece having a thread at the edge of said skirt, a secondpiece being a bottom portion having an extended skirt thereon and anotch extending downwardly from the edge thereof, with the skirt of eachportion corresponding substantially in length and with said skirt ofsaid one piece telescopically receiving the second-piece skirt thereinto substantially the full length of the skirts and with the notches in`each corresponding in posi- ,tion to one another for the laterallyextending operating means to be positioned therein, and the third pieceof said socket comprising an assembly ring having a threaded portion atone edge and a flange at the other carried on said second piece tothreadably engage the thread on the iirst piece and upon tightening topull the first and second pieces into assembled position with the skirtportions telescoped.

2. In an electric switch socket having therein switch mechanism andlaterally extending operating means, a shell housing consisting of threepieces, one of said pieces being a cap portion having an extended skirtthereon and a thread at the edge of said skirt, a second piece being abottom portion having an extended skirt thereon, with the skirt of eachportion corresponding substantially in length and with said skirt ofsaid one piece telescopically receiving the second-piece skirt thereinto substantially the full length of the skirts, and with each said skirtportion having a notch therein with the notches corresponding inposition to one another and having the laterally extending operatingmeans positioned therein, and the third piece of said socket comprisingan assembly ring carried on said second piece having a threaded portionat one edge threadably engaging the thread on said one piece to pullsaid one piece and second piece into an assembled position, and saidthird piece having a flange thereon of such a dimension as to preventthe removal thereof from said second piece.

3. In an electric socket having therein switch mechanism and operatingmeans extending laterally therefrom, a shell housing consisting of onlythree members, a cup-shaped cap member having a thread section at theedge thereof, a body member having a ridge thereon intermediate aportion thereof of one diameter and another portion thereof of a lesserdiameter, with said members each having an aperture thereincorrespondingly positioned in the assembled socket and having theoperating means therein which prevents lateral turning movement betweensaid two members, and with the third member comp-rising a relativelynarrow annular ring rotatable relative to the two members with a threadsection and a constricted section, said ring being retained on said bodymember at said portion of lesser` diameter by the constricted portion ofthe ring, and being threadably ccnnectible with said thread section ofthe cap member and engageable at the ridge of said body member to pullthe cap member and body member into an assembled relation and maintainthe same.

RUDOLF POPP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 876,552 Hubbell Jan. 14, 19082,116,518 Hubbell, Jr May 10, 1938

